Anthony Minghella, who recently directed Jill Scott, Anika Noni Rose, and Idris Elba in his last film, 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, has died suddenly. He was 54.

According to Variety, a spokesman said the Oscar-winning director and writer of 'The English Patient,' suffered a brain hemorrhage at 5 a.m. Tuesday morning at Charing Cross Hospital in London, where he had undergone a routine operation on his neck.

The BBC/HBO telepic "No 1 Ladies Detective Agency," based on Alexander McCall Smith's novel set in Botswana, is due to premiere March 23 on BBC1.
His last movie was "Breaking and Entering." His other credits include "Cold Mountain," "The Talented Mr Ripley" and "Truly Madly Deeply."

He recently stepped down as chairman of the British Film Institute. He was a partner with Sydney Pollack in Mirage Enterprises.